Lubricating apparatus



C. 'Wv MANZEL.

LUBRICATING APPARATUS Aig. 2,1927. '1,637,869

Filed March 2e. 1925 3 sheets-sheet l 3,537,869 C. W. MANZEL.

LUBRICATING APPARATUS Filed-March ,26. 1925 ..5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug., 2, 1927.

c. w` 'MANzEL Aug*- 2, 1927. 1,637,869

LUBRIGATING APPARATUS Filed March 26. 1955 5 sheets-s heetf i 7 Pfg. of

eating apparatus which is so constructedA Patented Aug. 2, 1927. i y -v narran stares CHARLS W. MANZEL, kF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

LUBRICATING APPARATUS.

Applicationy led March 26, 1925. Serial No. 18,440.v

This invention relates to a lubricating apparatus which is more particularly intended for use with hydraulic turbines, but may also be used with other machinery.

@ne of its chief objects is'to provide a grease lubricator for hydraulic turbines which is eilicient and reliable in operation, and which automaticaly feeds the grease to the bearings to be lubricated.

Another object ot' the invention is the provision of means for automatically arresting or stoppingI the discharge of grease from the container or cylinder at a predetermined point in the operation ofthe apparatus.

A further object is to provide a lubriand organized that it can be readily installed on turbines nowsin use without altering their construction, and which is provided with simple means for adjusting or adapting it to any speed within a `certain range.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the particular construction and arrangement of parts which will hereinafter be more fully described and Vspecifically pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a vertical, longitudinal section of a well-known type of hydraulic turbine showing my invention in connection therewith.` Figure 2 is a top plan view. partly in section., of the lubricating apparatus. Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section thereof in the plane of line 3 3, Fig. 2, the piston being` in position within the grease cylinder. `Figure 4 isfan enlarged fragmentary transverse section on line 4 4, Fig. 2, the piston being shown withdrawn from the cylinder and shifted to one side thereof for filling. Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section on line 5 5, Fig. 2. Figure 6 is an enlarged t-op plan view showing the feed-operating mecha-- nism, Figures Z and 8 are detailed views, partly in section, of the feed-pawl and trigger, respectively. Figure 9 is a planl view, partly in section, of the feed-pawl carrying arm and associated parts. Figure l() is a top plan view of the feed-pawl carrying arm. Figure ll is a vertical section on line ll, ll, Fig. 6. Figure l2 is a horizontal section on line 12-12, Fig. ll.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

By way of example, the invention is shown in connection with an hydraulicturbine of well-known construction. 2O indicating the turbine shaft, 21 the shaft-bearing which usually consists of lignu'm vitae blocks, and 22 the grease-inlet passage leading to this bearing and connected by ai pipe or vconduit 23 with the lubricating apparatus, which is conveniently located andvsupported on the turbine-frame 24. ln its general organization thisapparatus comprises a grease chamber or cylinderr having aV head Vmovable across vits open end to enablethe filling of the cylinder from time to time, a 4piston operable in said cylinder for expelling the grease therefrom, and means driven from the turbine for operating the piston intermittently at a comparatively slow speed.

25 indicates the grease reservoir or chamber which is preferably in the form of a cylinder closed at its bottom and open at its top,Y the kbottom havingV a transverse, grease-discharge passage 26 into the outlet end kof which the pipe 23 is connected. The lower end of this cylinder has an attaching iiange 27 by means of which the lubricating apparatus is fastened to the turbineframe 24, as shown'in Fig. l. At itsupper ond, said cylinder is provided with an outwardly-facing annular flange 28 upon which an overhanging, horizontal table or support 29 is mounted, the same being secured to said flange by bolts BO or other appropriate fastenings and constituting a platform upon which the various working parts of the apparatus are mounted. To this end, it

contains a pair. of longitudinal guides 3l containing horizontal grooves or channels 32, which are spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the external diameter of the grease cylinder and lwhich* extend over and a. suitable distance beyond kone side of said cylinder, as shown in Figs. 2 and y4. Mounted on the platform-guides 'for movement across the open end of the cylinder, is a. longitudinally-slidable,V hollow cylinderhead 33 having flanges or tongues 34 extending outwardly from its lower end `for engagement with the companion guide-grooves .32. ln the normal operating position of `the apparatus, the cylinder-head lis in line with and forms a continuation of the cyllli" inder Q5, the same having adownwardlyopening pocket or recess ftherein for this purpose, as seen in Fig. 3. y desired to relill the cylinder with lubricant, the cylinder-head is shifted manually to one side to uncover the cylinder, as shown by full lines in Figs, 2 and 4. Said cylinderhead is preferably locked in either of the aforesaid positions by spring-pressed loclr ing bolts 36 mounted on one of the `cylinder head guides and `arranged to register` with corresponding openings V37 termed in the cylinder-head flanges 34.

Operable in the cylinder` tor expellingV the Grease therefroinunder pressure to the; bearing or bearings to be lubricated is a pistonBS, which, during the iilling oli the cylinder. is adapted to extend into the cylinderf continuation or pocket ,termed in the cylindenhead VThis piston 1s mounted on the lower endl of a piston-rod which preferw ably consists ot a screw 39 extending through an internally-threaded collar or nut 40 r1s-' ing from the top wall or" the cylinder-head.

` To permit the screw to rotate independently ol" the piston during the movement of the latter in its cylinder and to insure ease of' operation of these parts, the piston is preer-` ably mounted on a sleeve or sivivel-bearing ll pinned or otherwise secured tothe lower end ot the screw. The swivel is provided intermediate its ends with a flange 42' andV the pieton is composed of upper' and lower sect-ions 43, 4A, respectively, which are dishand wheel i8 for manually moving the piston in its cylinder'. This wheel may be secured to said .screw by a set screw i9 l or other fastening.

Means are provided for expelling any air which might be presentin the grease after charging the cylinder therewith and also for venting the latter and dischargingiany lubricant, which may have forced its way above the piston. For'acconiplishing these desired results, thclscrew 39 isV of tubular` torni and extending treely into its bore 50 is a longitudinelly-movable valve-stem 51 terminating at its lowerrend in a valve-tace' 52 lor controlling a vent-port 53 formed in the lower piston-section lil and communicating with the screw-bore, as shown in Fig.

When it isv 3. At its upper end the valve-stem has an actuating knob 54, which, as shown at 55, has screw-threaded engagement with the upper end ojl' the bore 50 to permit the opening It will be noted has been discharged and prior to raising the piston in its cylinder to refill the latter, the

valve-stem 5l is turned in the proper direc-.

tion to open the vent-port 53, whereby any air or grease above the piston is' allowed to be displaced int-o the cylinder through the ports57, screw-bore V and said pent-port. i

The means for automatically moving the piston downwardly and intermittently at a comparatively slow `rate of speed to effect the discharge of the lubricant from thev cyl inder to the bearings to be treatefhare prei? erably constructed as follows? ltevolubl'y mounted on the collar cylinder-head 33 and suitably held against vertical displacement thereon is a hub or bushing 58 to which a ratchet wheel 59 fixed by pins 60. Saidbushing is provided with one or more keys 6l which engage cor-- responding grooves oi: key-ways 62 'formed in the screw 39 and extending substantially from end to end thereof, so that as rotary motion is imparted Vto the ratchet, the screw 1s compelled to turn therewith and move lengthwise relative thereto. Freely mounted i on the hub 58 above the ratchet WheelA is a horizontally swinging rocker `arm 63 which bears at its lower end against the top tace of said ratchet wheel while its upper end bears against a plate`641`securedto thertop of the hub byscrews 65, shown clearly in llig. 3. i At its'outer yend fthis'locker arm carries a `t'eed pawl 66 fulcrumed on the lower end ot a bolt 67 extending'through said arm. The latter is rocked to intermittently rotate the` ratchet wheel `through the medium of a driving mechanism preferably deriving its power directly from the turbineshaft 20. To this end, the turbine-shaft is provided with a pulley 68 connected by a belt 69 with apulley 7 Oniounted on a horizontal, i

`29 and a cover-plate 75, said worm-wheel being fixed on the lower end ,of an upright Shaft 76 journald Il a bearing T7. At its 40 oit the kill loo

llfl

upper end this upright shaft is provided with a crank 78 containing a dove-tail groove 79 in which is guided a radially-adjustable slide 80 connected by a link or connecting rod 81 with the rocker arm 63. A screw 82 is employed for fasteninoi the slide in a set position on the crank. y adjusting this slide toward and from the aXis of the upright shaft 76, the stroke or throw imparted to the rocker arm is reduced or increased accordingly7 resulting in a corresponding variation in the speed of travel of the piston 38 in its cylinder 25. Furthermore, by this adjustment feature, the lubricating apparatus can be readily adapted to any turbine-speed within a limited range.

Means are provided for manually disengaging 4the feed pawl 66 from the ratchet wheel 59 at will', as well as automatically effec'ting` such release of the feed pawl when the piston has reached vsubstantially the limit of its down or operating stroke. The preferred means for accomplishing these results, are constructed as follows S53 indicates a pawl-releasing member or bell crank lever which is fulcrumed at 84 to the rocker arm 63 to swing horizontally thereon, The inner arm 85 of this bell crank extends alongside the screw 39 and is provided with a roll-er 86 having a beveled or inclined annular bearing face 87 with which a correspondingly-shaped face 88 formed on the head-wheel hub 89 is ladapted te engage at a predetermined point inthe operation of the lubricating apparatus for actuating or shifting said bell crank lever to a position `to release the feedpawl from the ratchet wheel. A spring-pressed plunger 90, carried by the outer arm 91 of the bell crank and bearing at its outer end against the opposing face of the rocker-arm hub,

serves to normally hold said bell-crank in the position shown'in Figs. 3 and 6. in which the roller 86 is arranged in the path of movement of the hand-wheel hub 89. Depending from the free end of the outer bell-crank arin 91 and extending through an enlarged opening` 92 in the adjacent portion of the rock-er arm 63 is a pivot bolt 93 upon the lower end of which a horizontallyswinging trigger-arm 94 is fulcrumed, the same being disposed in the space between the rocker arm and ratchet wheel, and the. lower end of said pivot bolt bearingk directly on the upper side of the latter, as shown in Figs. l and 5. rlhe outer end of the trigger terminates in a tooth 95 which is adapted to interlock with one or the other of a pair of notches 96, 97 arranged on the opposite sides of a pointed tooth 9S and formed on the peripheral fac-e of a locking disk or collar 99 pinned to or integral with the hub of the feed pawl 66 to move therewith. A spring-pressed plunger 100 carried by a lateral extension 101of the rocker disk arm serves constantly to urge the triggery 9/-1 I toward the locking disk. w

ln order to manually e'llect the release of the feed pawl from the. ratchet wheel, the former is provided with'a suitable handle 109, which is graspedto swing the pawl from the posit-ion shown by full lines to the 'position shown by dot-ted lines in Fig. 7. During this movement, the locking disk 99 isy likewise turned a fraction of a revolutionythe trigger being released from the Anotch 96 and then allowed to snap into the trigger 951 with. it out of its notch 96`to the position shown by dotted .lines in Fig. 8. lmmediately after the tooth 95 o'f this trigger passes the point of the tooth 98 on the locking disk 99, the spring-pressed plunger 100 forces said trigger into engagement with the companion notch 97. ln approaching this position, due to the inclination of the contacting faces of the trigger tooth and locking disk tooth, the locking disk is comiellod to turn in the direction ofthe arrow seen in Fig. 8, moving the feed pawl with it and releasing the same from engagement with the ratchet wheel to prevent further movement of the piston downwardly in its cylinder.

For the purpose of'providing this apparatus with self-contained means for lubricating its various working parts a pair of lubricant-containing chambers or bowls 103, 103a are provided. As shown in Fig. 3, the bowl 103 is'pref-erably formed on the cylinvder-head and the lubricant contained therein serves to lubricate the screw`V ratchet wheel and other associated parts. The bowl 1030L is formed on the upper end of the shaft-bearing 77 and serves to lubricate said bearing and the other parts of the transmission mechanism. f i

`To prevent the ratchet wheel i9 from backing up during the operation of the :ip-- paratus, an escapement pawl 104: is provided which is preferably retained in its operative and inoperative positions vby mechaism substantially similar to that employed in connection with the feed pawl 66. As shown in Figs. 6, 'l1' and 12', this escapement pawl is pivoted to a pivot-bolt 105 and pinned to said .pawl is a notched locking 106 with one or another of whose notches atrigger 107 is adapted to interlock for holding saidfpawl in its engaged or reeased position. This trigger is pivoted at 108 to the inner arin ot a substantially L- shaped bracket whichis bolted or otherwise secured to the bottom ot' the bowl 103. A; spring-pressed'plunger 110 mounted in an extension 111 of Vthe bracket serves to yieldingly retain the trigger in engagement with the locking disk. As .shown in Fig. 4l, (he inner arm oit the bracket 109 overhangs.

the ratchet wheel and the trigger 107 is disposedin the space between the bracket ant the ratchet wheel, the lower end of the pivot bolt 108 bearing directly on the upper side ot the latter.` rlhe escapement pawl is env gaged and disengaged manually and for Vthis purpose may be provided with a suitable cylinder to enable the latter to be conveniently charged with grease or other lubricant `to be used and the feed and escapement pawls ('36 and 104C, respectively, are disconnected from the ratchet wheel 50, as shown in Figs. 9 and 12. After the cylinder is charged with lubricant, the cylinder-head is `moved in line with its cylinder as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 2 and l and by full lines in Fig. 3. The piston-actuating screw is now'turned by hand to properly compress or pack the grease in the cylinder, the valve 52 having been previously opened to expel any air, which might be present in the grease, through the vent port 53 and screw-passage 50 into the atmosphere. Aitter closing this valve, the apparatus is then ready for auto-` matic operation and the feed and escape-- ment pawls are engaged with the ratchet wheel through the medium ot their. respective handles 102, 112.` By the ieed arrangement shown, the piston is intermittently and slowly advanced in its cylinder, keeping the turbine bearing 21 thoroughly lubricated or a considerablel period ot time before it isnecessary to rell the cylinder.

1V hen the piston approaches the end of its stroke, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, the beveled hub-tace 88 on the hand-wheel encounters the rollerSG ot the feed pawl# releasing member 83, which, as heretofore Y described, disengages the teed pawl 66 from the ratchet wheel, thereby arresting the movement of the piston independently et the driving mechanism. The escapement pawl 104 is then disengaged, the valve 52 Ais opened and the piston raised in itscylinder by simply turning the hand-wheel. As the piston is raised, a vacuum is created in the cylinder, causing any air or grease which has been poclreted above the piston to be expelled into the cylinder below `the piston container, a vfeed-screw :tor the piston mov able lengthwise. ol the container, a ratchet wheel coa-:ial with saidscrew tor turning it,

a rockerlarm tulcrumed on the hub oit the ratchet ,'i'heel and carryingfa 'feed pawl en gaging the saine, powerfdriven means for actuating said rocler arm, and Acombined, shitting and locking means on the rocker arm for moving said pawl into and outot engagement with the ratchet wheel and maintaining itin either ot' such positions, said last-named means being movable in a plane parallel. to the plane of movement ot said roche1 arm.` i

2. In a lubricator for hydraulic turbines, the combination oi a container tor the lubricant having anoutlet, a piston movable in said container, a feed-screwV for the piston movable lengthwise oit thek container, a ratchet wheel for turning said screw, a rocker arm having its fulcrum coaxial with the screw and carrying a ieed-pawl engaging said ratchet wheel, means applied to said arm and'movable laterally thereol1 inY the plane oi its movement for shiiitin, said pawl into and out oi its operative position, power driven means lor actuating said rocker arm,` and means onthe screw for more ing said pawl-shitting means in a direction to release the pawl from the ratchet wheel when thepiston approaches the end ot its operating stroke.

3. In a lubricator for hydraulic turbines, the combination of a container for the lubricant haring an outlet, a piston movable in said container, a feed-screw for the piston,

a ratchet wheel for turning said screw, a rocker arm coaxial with the screw and carry-A ing a if'eed pawl engaging said ratchet wheel, means applied to said arm jor siitting said pawl into and out ot' its operative position, power-driven means for actuating said roole er arm, means on said screw arranged for engagement with said pawlshifting means "for actuating the latter to release the pawl from the ratchet wheel when. the piston ap` preaches the end of its operating stroke, and means independent of the screw-actuated means iior holding said pawl in its released position.

4. In a lubricator for hydraulic turbines, the combination of a container for the lubricant having an outlet, apiston operable therein, a feed-screw for the piston movable lengthwise of said container, a ratchet wheel coaxial with the screw for turning it, 'a'

rocker arm fulcrnined on the hub of the ratchet wheel and carrying a feed pawl engaging the same, power-driven means for actuating said rocker arm, a pawl-releasmg member pivotally mounted on the rocker arm to swing in a plane parallel to the movement thereof, said member including a part arranged to yieldingly interlock with the pawl for holding it in its engaged or released position, and means on said screw for swinging said pawl-releasing member in a direction to cause its yieldable part to release the pawl fiom the ratchet wheel at a predetermined pointin the piston-stroke.

5. In a lubricator for hydraulic turbines, the combination of a container for the lubricant having an outlet, a piston movable in said container, a feed-screw for the piston, a ratchet wheel for turning said screw, a rocker arm carrying a feed-pawl engaging said ratchet wheel, said feed-.pawl having a pair of notches in its hub, means for actuating said rocker arm, a pawl-releasing member pivotally mounted on said rocker arm and including a trigger-arm arranged to yieldingly interlock with one or the other of said pawl-notches for holding the pawl in its engaged and released positions, respectively, and means for swinging said paWlreleasing member in Va Adirection to cause its trigger to release the pawl from the ratchet wheel at a predetermined point of the pistonstroke.

6. In a lubricator for hydraulic turbines, the combination :of a container for the lubricant having an outlet, alpiston movable in said container, a feed-screw for the piston, a ratchet wheel for turning said screw, a rocker arm carrying a feed-pawl engaging said ratchet-wheel, the hub of said feedpawl having a tooth and locking notches' on opposite sides thereof, means for actuating said rocker arm, a pavvl-releasing member pivotally mounted on said rocker arm and including a swinging trigger-arm having a tooth arranged to yieldingly interlock with one or the other of said locking-notches, means for yieldingly urging the pawl-releasing member in one direction, and means on said screw for moving said member in the opposite direction at a predetermined point of a piston-stroke to effect the release of thel pawl from the ratchet wheel, the faces 'of the pawl-tooth being inclined in opposite directions, whereby the pawl is forced to swing into or out of engagement with the ratchet wheel when said trigger arm is engaged with one or the other of the locking notches in said pawl.

7. In a lubricator for hydraulic turbines,

thecombination on a container for the lubricant having an outlet in its lower end and an internally-threeded opening in its head,

a `piston movable in said container, a feedcant having an outlet in its low-er end and an internally-thi'eaded opening in its head, a piston movable in said container, a feedscrew for the rpiston engaging said threadedopening and having a key-way extending lengthwise thereof, a ratchet wheel journaled on the container-head and having a key engaging said key-way, means. Vfor holding said ratchet wheel against movement lengthwise of said container, a rocker arm mounted on th-e hub of the ratchet wheel and carrying a feed pawl engaging the latter, an escapement pawl engaging the ratchet wheel, and means for actuating said rocker arm.

9. In a lubricator for hydraulic turbines,

the combination of a container' for the lu-y bricant having an outlet in its lower end and an internally-.threaded opening in its head, a piston 'movable in said container, a feedscrew for the piston engaging said threadedopening and having a key-way extending lengthwise thereof, a ratchet wheel journaled ontlie container-head and having a key engaging said key-way, a rocker arm mounted on the hub of the ratchet wheel and carrying a feed pawl engaging the latter, means for actuating said rocker arm, a bracket mounted on the head of said container and overhanging the ratchet wheel to hold the same down and prevent its movement lengthwise of the container, and an escapeinent pawl for the ratchet wheel pivot-ed `on said scribed, comprising a container for the grease havinigl an outlet, a piston and pistonrod movablein said container, `a boWl` shaped hand-Wheel secured to the upper end of said piston-rod, the latter extendingrinto the bowl of said Wheel, said piston including a vent-port in its bottom openinginto said container, said pistonaod having` a longitudinal passage communicating at `its lower end with said piston-port and opening` at its upper end into said hand-Wheel and a lateral passage immediately above the piston, and a valve for controlling the piston-port and having` a stem extending freely through the piston-rod passage.`

l2. A lubricator of the character described, comprising a cylinder for the lu bricant open at its upper end and having an outlet at its lower end, a support applied to the upper end of said cylinder and extending laterally therefrom, a laterally-slidable head guided on said support' and movable to a position in line with or at one side of the cylinder, a piston operable in said cylinder' and having' a piston-rod extendng` through said cylinderhead, the latter having a recessV ormng a continuation of the cylinder for receivingl said pistonl and releasable locking devices applied to said support 'for engagement with said slideable-head lorholding it in either oi' the above-named positions,

13. A lubricator of the character scribed, comprising a cylinder for the lubri cant open at its upper end, and having an outlet at its lower end, a support applied to the upper end of said cylinder, a laterallyslideable head guided on said support and movable to a position in line With or at one side of the cylinder, a piston operable in said cylinder including an actuating-screw eX- tending through the top of the .cylinderscribed, comprising a cylinder for the lubri-` cant open at its upper end and having an outlet at its lower end, a piston operable in said cylinder, a headV for the cylinder movable across the open end thereof to cover and uncover the same, and means mounted on said cylinder-head 'for moving` the piston in its cylinder, said head having a recess in itsV bottom for receiving the piston and a chamber' in its top for containing lubricant for the piston-operating means.

l5. A lubricating,I apparatus, comprising a cylinder for the lubricant having an outlet, a piston `operable in said cylinder, a plat.- iiorni applied to the Vupper end of said cylinder, a head for the cylinder guided on said platform for movement across the open end of said cylinder to cover and uncover the same, and means for moving said piston in its cylinder including an intermittent `leed nechanism mounted on the cylinder-head, a driving,` shaft journaled at one end of said platform, a crank-shaft journaled on the latter and interposed between said cylinder and said driving shaft, and means for adjustably connecting said crank-shaft'with said feed mechanism. n

CHARLES W. MANZEL. 

